NOTES. 



103 



3. Mr. Drieberg's Note on Crows {ibid, p. 68). — It is possible that 

 the fleshy grubs of a cockchafer were the object of the attention of 

 the crows. These grubs are often found in localized areas of grass 

 land, and are known to be preyed upon by crows and minahs. 

 When grass has been attacked by the grubs, the roots are often so 

 completely destroyed that the plants can be lifted with very little 

 effort. 



E. E. GREEN. 



4. Note on the death of a Cooly from Snake-bite. — The number of 

 reported deaths from snake-bite is so great, and the cases in which 

 the snake has been identified so few, that any authentic records are 

 of especial value. Hearing of a recent fatality on an estate in the 

 Gampola district, and learning that the snake had been kiUed and 

 preserved, I applied for tlie loan of the specimen. It proved to be 

 a male of the Ceylon krait or karawala {Bungarus ceylonicus), 

 measuring without its head (which had been cut off) 25| inches. The 

 total length must have been about 27 inches. There were 22 white 

 rings on the body, and the black areas were continued — as well- 

 defined dark bands — across the under surface. It is noticeable that 

 this dark banding of the under surface is found in all of our terres- 

 trial Colubrine venomous snakes : the cobra, the karawala, and the 

 scarce Callophis, and, as far as I know, in none of the harmless 

 species. 



The particulars of this case have been kindly supplied by the 

 superintendent of the estate. It appears that the man went outside 

 his lines at 4 a.m. and was bitten on the left foot. He went back to 

 his room, brought a lamp and a stick, and killed the snake. He is 

 said to have recognized the snake as a deadly one, but returned to 

 his lines and discussed the matter with his relatives until about 5.30, 

 when it was time to start for muster. The man at this time felt 

 sleepy and did not attend muster. The drowsiness increased until 

 10 A.M., when the case was reported to the Supermtendent, who 

 immediately went down armed with a bottle of whisky. But the 

 man was able to swallow very little and was sick after each dose, 

 the vomit being of a yellow colour. The patient was walked about 

 until his legs refused to move. He was very cold. Artificial respi- 

 ration (as applied in cases of drowning) was kept up until the arrival 

 of the medical officer. The doctor's treatment consisted of whisky 

 and ammonia, every half hour. At 2 p.m. the man was very feverish 

 and quite insensible. At 4 p.m. he was reported dead, exactly 

 twelve hours after the occurrence of the bite. 



E. E. GREEN. 



